Feeler mechanism for looms



Feb. 18, 1930. J. w. slMPsoN 1,747,991

l FEHLER MECHANISM FOR LOOMS Filed Sept. 13. 1928 A T -roR/VEY PatentedFeb. is, 193e .,{UNITED STATES PATENT oi-Fics l JESSE SIMPSON, ANDERSON,SOUTH CAROLINA, ASSIGNOR TO DRAPER CORPORA- TION, 0F HOPEDALE,MASSACHUSETTS, A CORPORATION OF MAINE FEELER MECHANSM FOR LOOMSApplication' filed September lf3, 1928. Serial No. 305,635.

' Thisinvention relatesto feeler mechanisms for looms. whereby `theAoperative condition of lthe loom is changed from time to time as thekf`ll'lii: '1g becomes substantially exhausted. The

change the operative condition of the loom is usually rone't'hat effectsfilling replenishment.7 andthe vpresent invention will be described inthis connection.

f I Several types of feeler mechanisms have been suggested heretofore inan attemptto minimize waste of filling upon replenishment of filling inthe shutte and among such feeler mechanisms is that commonly known kafsthe Side slipping7 feeler, wherein the feeler moves longitudinally ofvthe shuttle wheny the filling is substantially exhausted onadetectingbeat'. Su'chside slipping move ment of the feelerv is imparted either`by the frontward pressure of a surface within the shuttle or by meanssuch as a spring which v,acts upon the feeler independently to causeitsmside vslipping movement. The present invention is more particularlydirected to a feeler mechanism of the side slipping type wherein .thefeeler is spring stressed to effect its indicating or side slippingmovement.

Waste filling, of course, depen'dsupon the amount of yarn left upon thefilling carrier when ity-is ejected from the shuttle on replenishment offilling and the problem presented to a feeler mechanism to minimize suchYwaste isa delicate one and depends largely /upo'ii Athe accuracy anddelicacy of the feeler operation. One of the objects of the presentinvention'is to provide a feeler mechanism of the side slipping typewhich shall be under .the influence of a kspring so constructed andrelated to the feeler itself that it will` act both having a laterallyextending arm and a fulcrum'stop against which the feeler is held 'by aspring acting in an inclined direction and exerting its stress on alinerearward of the fulcrum stop when the yfeeler is in feeling position,and frontward of the fulcrum stop when the feeler is ymoved frontwardly,the result being that the single spring acts both to position the feelerfor its feeling function and then acts when the feeler is movedfrontwardly to impart a tendency to its side slipping movement.

The invention and novel features 'thereof will best loe made clear fromthe following description and the accompanying drawings of one good formof the invention.

In the drawings:

kFig. 1 is a perspective view with -parts broken away showing sufficientof the loom and feeler mechanism to make clear the operative conditionof the latter;

Fig. 2 is a plan view showing the action of ,the feeler mechanism on akdetecting beat when 4a working supply ofviilling is present in theshuttle;

Fig. 3 is a plan view showing by full lines the position of partson adetecting beat when the filling is substantially exhausted, and bydotted lines the relation of parts when the feeler is in its rearwardfeeling position; and

Fig. 4 is a section on the line 4 4 of Fig; 3.

As hereinbefore indicated, feeler mechanisms are now generally employedin looms toefiect replenishment of filling when that in the activeshuttle has become substantially exhausted, but since the replenishingmechanism and its manner of operation are both now well understood yinthe art such mechanism is not here shown as its details form no part ofthe present invention.

The shuttle box l may be of usual construction and the front wallthereof may have an openingfor the entrance of the feeler as is now theordinary practice. The shuttle 2 contains the lilling carrier 3, thehead portion l ot which is provided with rings 5 for engagement with theusual bobbin holding j aws of the shuttle, and the front wall of theshuttle is provided with an opening Gt-hrough which the eeler may passand detect the condition of the lilling, vall as usual.

Mounted upon the loom frame or shipper stand is a bracket 7 upon whichis secured the iteeler stand 8 by means of a bolt 9 which is passedthrough an opening 10 in the eeler stand. The 'eeler 11 is mounteddirectly on the ieeler stand for movement towards and from the front ofthe loom and longitudinally of the shuttle; The rear end portion of thefloating teeler 11 is provided with one or moreV teeth 12 which areadapted to engagethe Atilling in the shuttle and prevent side slippingmovement or the feeler when a working supply is present on a detectingbeat.

The feeler 11 extendsthrongh an opening 13 formed in an upstandingflange or rib 14 at the rearof the teeler stand and Nhas liberty ofmovement towards and from the front of the looman'd longitudinally 'ofthe shuttle.Y

The front portionofthe `feeler 11 is provided with a laterally extendingarm 15 which as shown comprises a bent portion of the front. end oi"-the feelerritseliralthough it may be otherwise formed. The terminalportion oi thelaterally extending arm 15 as shown is provided with ahook 16 to which is secured one end. 17 of a pull spring 18,

. the rear end portion ofthe spring being secured to an upstandingportion 19 ot the arm 20, the construct-ion being such that the stressof the spring 18 relativeto the feeler is in a rearward and lateraldirection.

' Mounted upon the feeler stand 8 is a pin or screw 21 which constitutesatulerum stop lagainst which themain body portion of the l'eeler 11rests during the loom operation and which constitutes a fulcruin aboutwhich the theelei: may be turned when itis moved :trontwaidly on adetecting beat with iilling. substantially exhausted.. The fulcruin stop21 may be constitute-d as a .boltyas indicated in Fig, 4l, whiclnin thepresent instance ot the invention, is passed through the innerend 22ofthe arm 2() and clainped'thereto by a nut 1.55, theconstruction beingsuch V'that by ina- Vnipiilation'eic the'nut/23 the arm 20'may be ymoved into diterent 'positionsfto change the direction spring ystressupon the eeler. i

The fulcrunistop 21 may beprovi'ded .with

a washer 24 andA an enlargedhead portion 25 to maintain proper Contactand'posit'ionV of the i'eeler 11.. 4 v' Hf The laterally eirtending arm15 at the'tront portion oi the eeler projects beyond the fulcruni stop,as indicated more clearly iii Figs. 2 and 3, and is preferablybentrearwardly, with the result that the yloop in the arm 15 embracesthe feeler stop when the eeler is in its rearward feeling position.

As indicated in the present instance of the invention, the backwardlyturned end portion of the arm 15 isof a length such that when the feelerl1 is in its rearward feeling posit-ion, the stress of the spring 18willact upon the feeler along a line a back of the fulcrum stop, soAthat when the feeler is in its rearward feeling position under theaction of the yspring 18, the latter willexert Vstress upon the eeler toplace itin a directly extending backward position, as indicated by thedotted feeler in a direction longitudinally of the shuttle, as indicatedby full lines in F ig. 3. f

F rom the construct-ion described it will be noted that the singlespring acts upon .the laterally extending arm 15 of the feeler at apoint beyond the, ulcrum stop, and when the feeler is in itsrearwardffeeling position the line of stress exerted bythe spring 18will be back of the fulcrum stop andteiid to move theV feeler laterallyinto its proper feeling position, but when the feeler is movedfrontwardly on a detecting beat the line of Vstress of the springwillbeexertedata point in front of the fulcrum stop,V as indicated lin lFig. 3, thereby imparting to the feeler atendency to move longitudinallyof the shuttle. The ulcrum stop 21, therefore,.constantly acts upon theteeler to guide it in its frontward movement-'when a workingsupply oflilling is present- Vin the shuttle onfa detecting beat, and acts as aulcrum about which the eeler swings under the stress of the spring 18when filling is substantiallyexhausted on a detecting beat. y Y

It may be desirable at times toy change' the direction of the springstress by shifting the f position ofthe arm 20, which' .may readily bedone by loosening the nut 23,positioning the arm 2O and then tighteningthe nut.

' Mounted ontlie `eeler stand8 is a. lug 26 through which extendsagtransmitter 27v the end portion 28 of whichis in the path of movementof the, teeler 11 as .the latter slides along the filling`l` carrierlongitudinally e of .the

27 is a train of mechanism for eiecting replenishment'of filling. p i.in Vihat is claimed is:

1. Infafeeler mechanism `for looms, the combination"of a teeleij.stand,a floating side slipping feelery mounted' directly on therfeelershuttle, and associated withthe transmitter Y i stand, a fulcrum vstoponthe feeler stand, an arm'extending laterally fromthe feeler and havinga rearwardly extending end embracing the fulcrum stop, and a springconnect` ed to the end of the arm at a point beyond and rearward of thefulcrum stop when the feeler is in rearward feeling position andfrontward of the vfulcrum stop when the feeler is moved frontwardly thatthe feeler may be given its side slipping movement by the spring when nythe lling is substantially exhausted on a de tecting beat,

2. In a feeler mechanism for looms, 'the combination of a feeler stand,a floating side slipping feeler mounted on the feeler stand, a fulcrumstop on the feeler stand at one side of the feeler, an arm extendinglaterally from the feeler and having its end portion turned rearwardlyto form a loop between the feeler and the rearwardly turned portion ofthe arm for embracing the fulcrum stop and a spring acti-ng on therearwardly extended portion of Ythe arm in a diagonal direction at therear of the fulcrum stop when the feeler is in rearward feeling positionand in a diagonal direction at the front of the fulcrum stop when thefeeler is moved frontwardly that the spring may then act with a tendencyto move the feeler longitudinally of the shuttle.

3. In a feeler mechanism for looms, ther combination of a feeler stand,a floating side slipping feeler mounted on the feeler stand,

ka fulcrum stop Von the feeler stand at one side of the feeler, an armrigid with and extending laterally from the feeler and having y its endportion turned rearwardly about the fulcrum stop and a pull springacting on the rearwardly extended portion of the arm in a diagonaldirection at the rear of the fulcrum stop when` the feeler is inrearward feeling position and in a diagonal direction at the yfront ofthe fulcrum stop when the feeler is moved frontwardly thatthe spring maythen act with a tendency to move the feeler longitudinally of theshuttle. Y

4. In a feeler mechanism for looms, the

'y combination of a feeler stand, a floating side l slipping feelermounted directly on the feeler stand, a fulcrum stop on the feeler standat one side of the feeler, an arm extending from .A thefeeler and havinga looped portion embracing the fulcrum stop, a spring connected to thelooped portion of the arm and acting in Aa rearward diagonal directionback of the fulcrum lstop when the feeler is in rearward position and infront of ythe fulcrum stop when the feeler is moved frontwardly that thespring may thentend to move the feeler longitudinally of the shuttle.

5. In a feeler mechanism for looms, the combination of a. feeler stand,a floating side slipping feeler mounted onthe feeler stand,

- a fulcrum stop on the feeler stand, an arm extending laterally fromthe feeler and having its end turned rearwardly forming a loop about thefulcrum stop, a ypull spring connected to the rearwardly turned endportion of the arm at a point beyond the fulcrum stop and lactinglaterally and rearwardly in anlinclined ,direction to move the -feelerto feeling position and exerting a stress upon the feeler when itismoved'frontwardly tending to yswing the feeler longitudinally of theshuttle about the fulcrum stop.

6. In a feeler mechanismfor looms, the combination of a feeler stand, afloating side slipping feeler mounted on the feeler stand, a fulcrumstop on the feeler stand, an arm extending laterally from the feelertowards and beyond the fulcrum stop and having its free end portionbeyond the fulcrum stop projected rearwardly about the fulcrum stop, apull spring connected to the rearwardly extending end of the arm at apoint beyond rthe fulcrum stop and acting rearwardly in an inclineddirection to ypull thefeeler to feeling position and exerting a stressupon the feeler when it is moved frontwardly tendin to swingthe feelerlongitudinally of the shuttle about the fulcrum stop, and means forchanging the rearwardly inclined direction of the spring pull.

7. In a feeler mechanism for looms, the combination of a feeler stand, afloating side slipping feeler mounted directly on the feeler stand, afulcrum stop on the feeler stand at one side of the feeler, an armextending laterally from the feeler beyond the fulcrum stop and havingthe end portion turned rearwardly to form a loop about the fulcrum stop,

and a spring connected to the end portion of the arm beyond the fulcrumstop and acting to move the fe'eler to feeling position and to exertstress upon the feeler tending to move it longitudinally of the shuttleabout the fulcrum stop when the feeler is moved frontwardly.

8. In a feeler mechanism for looms, the combination of a feeler stand, afulcrum stop mounted on the feelcr stand, a floating side slippingfeeler mounted on the feeler stand and having its front portion extendedlaterally past the fulcrum stop and there turned rearwardly, an armsecured to the feeler stand, a spring having its rear end connected tothe arm and its opposite end secured to the rearwardly turned end of thefront portion of the feeler at a point beyond the fulcrum stop andacting in a rearwardly inclined direction back of the fulcrum stop whenthe feeler is in L rearward feeling position and in front of the fulcrumstop when the feeler is moved frontwardly on a detecting beat.

9. In a feeler mechanism for looms, the

combination of a feeler stand, a feeler to feel which the feeler swingswhen it moves longid tudinally ofthe shuttle and a'pull spring formoving the eeler to its rearward feeling position and pullinglaterallyofn'the feeler rear- Ward of the ulerum pivot When the feeleris in! rearward feeling position and frontward `of the fuloruln pivotwhen the VV:eeler isV moved rontwardly on a detecting beat to impart atendency for the eeler to side slip'. In testimony whereof, I havesigned my l 3l name to this speeilication.l l

JESSE W.L SIMPKsoN.

fioV

